American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume II: From the 1790s to the End of the Flintlock Period

147. NAVAL BLUNDERBUSSES AND SWIVEL GUNS

NAVAL BLUNDERBUSSES AND SWIVEL GUNS 147. There are, in several American collections, a number of American-made or assembled blunderbusses. Some ofthese are intended to be hand carried and fired from the shoulder; others are fitted with swivelsand are intended to be fired from the railings of ships. These arms appear to have been made from sometime after the Revolutionary War through the War of 1812. It was during this period that several hundred U.S. privateers, under letters of marque from the federal government and several states, roamed the Atlantic seaboard. Also during this period, and especially during the War of 1812, naval warfare was conducted on the rivers and great lakes of the then-western frontiers. It is believed that these arms saw service in the hands of these privateers, militia, or navy during this period. No studies have been done on these interesting arms, and they offer an intriguing area for research. NEW ENGLAND BLUNDERBUSS 147.F Plate 147.F-A This brassmounted blunderbusshas a 36V iron barrel. Its Dutch lock dates from the third quarter of the 18th century, and it ismissing the upper leaf of the frizzen spring.There is a lateral hole through the walnut stock about4"forward ofthe lock, indicating that it had been used with a yoke as a swivel gun at one time. (Springfield Armory Museum N.H.S. Collection.) This brass-mounted blunderbuss is 361 /z" overall. The 23l /i" iron barrel with flared muzzle and other military and New England-style components have been assembled into a walnut stock. The brass breech plug tang has a pointed end. There isa rectangular brass inlay in the barrel's top breech flat containing araised "US" over a six-pointed star. The 6l /i" by P/u" lock isof Dutch origin and isthe same ashas been described in Volume I for Dutch (Type I) and (Type II) muskets. Traces of "MAASTRICHT " are still visible, engraved into the flat-surfaced plate's lower edge bevel. The lock's external components, except the pan, have been replaced with those of French configuration. The cock is of Springfield Armory configuration, of the style used between 1806 and 1815. NAVAL BLUNDERBUSSES AND SWIVEL GUNS 333 The 97 /i6" brass trigger guard isNew England-style. The bow's rear branch is split, and the front extension terminates in a decorative, pointed end. The front sidescrew escutcheon is a round washer. The rear escutcheon isoval-shaped and projects downward, below the screw's head. The button-headed steel ramrod is retained by two barrel-style thimbles. There is a lateral 5 /s"-diameter hole through the forestock, about 4" forward of the lock, indicating that this blunderbuss was at one time equipped with a yoke for use as a swivel gun. "PITTSBURGH" SWIVEL GUN 147.M This massive, iron-mounted swivel gun is5P/V' overall. The round iron barrel is 33V. It has a reinforcing band just behind its flared muzzle. The bore diameter is 1.3", about 4" behind the muzzle. The 63 /s" by IV' lock is very similar to the lock used in the U.S. Model 1840 flintlock musket. The IZVz" French-style trigger guard has pointed ends. The barrel is secured by three broad iron bands. The butt plate has a straight rear Plate 147.M-A The bore of this massive iron-mounted swivel gun is only slightly flared near the muzzle. This gun has a swivel with a square friction-nut and handle, which slideswithin the slot in the curved elevation shaft extending from the wrist. This enables it to be quickly set in desired elevations . (Springfield Armory Museum N.H.S. Collection.) Plate 147.M-B The flat-surfaced lockplate is similar to those of Springfield Model 1812 muskets. It is mounted with external components that are similar to those of Model 1840 muskets. It is stamped "US" over "PITTSBURGH " in a horizontal arc forward of the cock, and a spread eagle is stamped into the lockplate 's tail. (Springfield Armory Museum N.H.S. Collection.) 334 AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. II profile and a slightly convex rear surface. Its tang has a rounded end. The upper two clamping-type bands are secured by lateral screws across split lugs at the bottom. The lower band is secured by the swivel yoke's lateral bolt. An arched elevation adjustment shaft issuspended from another bolt, which passes through the...